Circles Around the Sun swung through The Ardmore Music Hall in Ardmore, Pennsylvania on Friday night with guitarist Scott Metzger in tow. The band would welcome opener Frank Locrasto toward the end of their set.
CATS started things off with some synthy space before settling into the groove of “One For Chuck,” from their 2018 album Let It Wander, which saw Metzger and keyboardist Adam MacDougall wandering off on guitar and synth runs over the steady beat and bottom end of drummer Mark Levy and bassist Dan Horne respectively. The band hit a peak before bringing things back down into the song’s laid back groove. Next, more material from LIW with “Immovable Object,” which featured another pocket groove punctuated by a build-up led by Metzger. The upbeat “Detroit Dose” came next, a song with shades of Steely Dan that then led into “Halicarnassus,” a funky tune that draws its name from one of the ancient wonders of the world. “Halicarnassus” then led into a song called “Pete Jive,” which is set to appear on the band’s upcoming self-titled album, the last with recordings from late guitarist Neal Casal.
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Circles Around The Sun Announce New Studio Album Featuring Final Neal Casal Recordings
Circles Around The Sun will release a self-titled studio album in March 2020 containing the late Neal Casal’s final recordings.
“Pete Jive” found its way into a crescendo with MacDougall and Metzger once again trading synth and guitar solos before bringing the song to a close. Let It Wander opening salvo “On My Mind” followed and stretched to nearly 20 minutes ahead of the band’s newly released single, “Leaving (Rogue Lemon).” The tune kicked off a Circles Around The Sun section with CATS welcoming synthesizer soundscape master Frank LoCrasto on the disco-tinged number and second single from CATS the album. Seated behind MacDougall, LoCrasto manned the Fender Rhodes while MacDougall helmed the Hohner Clavinet. LoCrasto helped bring the number home with some tasty synth runs. The band then closed out the set with the album’s lead single, “Babyman.” Circles Around The Sun retook the stage for an encore of “Scarlotta’s Magnolias” from the album that started it all, Interludes For The Dead, which Casal and company composed for set break music during the Grateful Dead’s Fare Thee Well 50th anniversary run, to cap off the evening.
Watch full show video including Frank LoCrasto’s opening set via Nugs.tv as well as full show audio taped by Rich Stoler below:
Setlist via Rich Stoler
One For Chuck, Immovable Object, Detroit Dose > Halicarnassus > Pete Jive, On My Mind, Leaving (Rogue Lemon), Money is No Option*, Babyman
Encore: Scarlotta’s Magnolias
Notes:
* w Frank LoCrastro
